Padrick awarded Long Leaf Pine

Elliott Potter, left, publisher of The Daily News and outgoing chamber chairman, welcomes Mona Padrick as she receives the Order of the Long Leaf Pine during the recent 69th Annual Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce Membership Celebration.

Don Bryan

By LINDELL KAY Daily News Staff

Published: Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 04:38 PM.

Believing she would be just a presenter at this year’s Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce 69th annual celebration ceremony, retired president Mona Padrick found herself on the receiving end instead.

She said she was speechless and greatly humbled to be presented with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s most prestigious recognition.

Created in 1965, the Long Leaf Pine, named for the official state tree, is awarded by the governor to recipients who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state. Padrick joins an exclusive club of Pine honorees including Billy Graham, Andy Griffith, Michael Jordan and Louis Sewell, who has won two Long Leaf Pines.

Criteria for being awarded the Pine includes contributions to communities, extra effort in careers and many years of service to civic organizations. Padrick qualifies on all counts, said Million Heir-Williams, interim president of the chamber.

“She is a courageous leader,” Heir-Williams said of Padrick. Heir-Williams said she will always call Padrick “boss.”

Padrick retired late last year after 16 years with the chamber to spend time traveling and enjoying the outdoors with her husband Devone.

Believing she would be just a presenter at this year’s Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce 69th annual celebration ceremony, retired president Mona Padrick found herself on the receiving end instead.

She said she was speechless and greatly humbled to be presented with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s most prestigious recognition.

Created in 1965, the Long Leaf Pine, named for the official state tree, is awarded by the governor to recipients who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state. Padrick joins an exclusive club of Pine honorees including Billy Graham, Andy Griffith, Michael Jordan and Louis Sewell, who has won two Long Leaf Pines.

Criteria for being awarded the Pine includes contributions to communities, extra effort in careers and many years of service to civic organizations. Padrick qualifies on all counts, said Million Heir-Williams, interim president of the chamber.

“She is a courageous leader,” Heir-Williams said of Padrick. Heir-Williams said she will always call Padrick “boss.”

Padrick retired late last year after 16 years with the chamber to spend time traveling and enjoying the outdoors with her husband Devone.

“I love this community,” she said. “That will never change.”

Padrick is the only chamber staff member in its nearly seven decade history to be awarded its prestigious Woman of the Year award. She served as the organization’s president — the top administrative staff position — for 11 years.

Under Padrick’s leadership, the chamber purchased the former Progress Energy building on Gum Branch Road for its headquarters; fulfilled the CommerceCenter concept, which includes managing tourism for the county; started the Forum Onslow series; created the Minority Business Services Division; developed the African-American Heritage Trail; and established workforce development programs such as Trades Day. She also helped push Project Care into a more high-profile role in assisting both local businesses and military families during large troop deployments.

A local girl, Padrick grew up in Richlands. She said Onslow County has changed a lot since her younger days. She said she remembers when there was just one restaurant in Richlands and one drive-through in Jacksonville.

She said the chamber has grown as well — expanding from early annual budgets of less than $10,000 to more than $500,000 in 2012.

Contact Daily News Senior Reporter Lindell Kay at 910-219-8455 or lindell.kay@jdnews.com. Follow him on Twitter and friend him on Facebook @ 1lindell.